Extensible handle for caskets



Aug. 31, 1937. J. STEEN EXTENSIBLE HANDLE FOR GASKETS Filed July 30,1935 Patented Aug. 31, 1937 UNITED STATES OFFICE 4 Claims.

The invention to which the following description relates is inextensible handles for burial caskets, coffins or the like. The hardwareused with coflins and caskets either for handling or ornamentation isgenerally provided of standard form and size varying greatly in style tosuit the preferences either of the undertaker or the customer dealingwith him. The selection of a suitable size of coflin, casket or burialcase is subject to wide variation. It is sometimes difficult to get theharmonious relation between the casket and the standard size hardwaresupply. This is particularly true in respect to the handle which isattached to each side of the casket and used by the pall bearers incarrying the casket. These handles are provided in certain definitesizes. A long handle suitable for a large casket may of course be cutdown in harmony with the shortness of a small casket. The difficulty,however, arises that such shortened handles increase the awkwardness ofhandling by the pall bearers.

The usual custom is to provide six pall bearers, three on each side ofthe casket. There is a normal minimum spacing which these pall bearersmust maintain to prevent awkwardnes or interference one with another. Ifthe handle is shortened to conform to a short casket the pall bearersare necessarily crowded.

3') It is an object of my invention to provide an extensible handle forcaskets. This handle may be proportioned suitably for a short casket. Atthe same time it will permit lengthening so that the pall bearers maymaintain a suitable normal 3 and convenient spacing. When the handle isnot being used it may be readily returned to its normal size and conformwith the desired proportions of the casket.

Another object of my invention is to provide an improved handle whichmay be attached to the side of the casket at three or more placesadjustably spaced apart, but without interfering with the strength andrigidity of the handle.

A further object of my invention is to provide means by which extensionsof the handle will be conveniently released to lengthen the handle andat the same time maintain its serviceability.

Other objects of my invention will be apparent from the followingdescription of the preferred form of the invention as illustrated in theattached drawing in which.

Fig. 1 is a plan piew of the extensible handle;

Fig. 2 is a longitudinal horizontal section taken through the handleproper;

Fig. 3 is an enlarged View of one end of the handle similar to what isshown in Fig. 2;

Fig. 4 is a top plan view of the extension bar shown in Fig. 3;

Fig. 5 is a cross-section taken on the line 5, 5 of Fig. 4;

Fig. 6 is a perspective view of a modified form of extension bar and IFig. 7 is a fragmentary vertical cross-section taken on the line ll ofFig. 1.

As illustrating the principles of my invention, I have shown theextensible handle to be formed in the following manner. A series ofplates l are customarily provided for attachment to the side of thecofiin. Each plate 1 carries a pair of pivoted arms 8. By means of thesearms the handle proper hangs in a vertical plane at the side of thecasket when not in use. When it is desired to lift the casket the handleis lifted until the arms 8 extend slightly downward with respect to ahorizontal plane.

The central pair of arms 8 is attached fixedly to the mid-portion of ahollow tubular member 9 which forms the shell of the handle. Theremaining arms 8 slide along the tube 9 and may be attached to thelatter at convenient positions by soldering, welding, screws or the likeafter such adjustment has been completed. The position of the arms 8 isdependent upon the overall length of the handle and its ratio to thelength of the casket itself.

The center of the tube 9 is occupied by a block It of wood or othersuitable material and this forms an abutment.

Each end of the tube 9 carries a bar ll similar to what is shown in Figs3 and 4. This bar N forms the extensible part of the handle. In itsretracted position the head I?! of the bar rests against the end of thetube 5! as shown in Figs. 1 and 2. This head 12 may be in the form of aknob or any other suitable decoration in harmony with the rest of thehardware.

In like manner the bar I! may have a coating or sheath l3 similar in.material and decoration to the tube 9. It is intended that the sheathingl3 will give the extension bar II the appearance of being practically apart of the tube 9.

In Fig. 5 the bar H has been shown to be square in cross-section with asheet metal sheathing 53 surrounding it. This bar will of course conformin cross-section with that of the tube 9 and if both are rectangularthen there will be no possibility of the bar rotating relatively to thetube 9.

One side of the bar II is grooved as shown at I4 in Fig. 4 and suitablyspaced along this groove are recesses or depressions I5, I 5 by whichthe bar may be locked longitudinally with respect to the 5 tube 9.

The inner end of the bar I I has a restricted portion I6 which forms abearing for a coil spring I I. This coil spring has its opposite endresting against the abutment Ill. The purpose of the spring obviously isto urge the bar II to its extended position relative to the tube 9.

Suitable means are provided to latch the bar I I in one of its selectedpositions. This means consists of a collar I8 soldered or otherwisefixed to the inner side of the tube 9 near one end. The tube 9 has anopening centrally of the collar I8 to accommodate the plunger I9. Theouter end of the plunger has a button which normally rests against theend of the collar I8.

20 Spaced from the opposite end of the plunger I9 is a washer 2I and acoiled spring 22 runs between the washer 2-I and the inner end of thecollar I8. The coil spring 22 holds the washer 2| down against thesurface of the tube 9 with the free end of the plunger extendinginwardly into one of the recesses I5. In this position the button 20rests against the end of the collar I8.

With the button 20 retracted until the plunger is out of one of theseries of recesses I5, the bar I I may be positioned inwardly againstthe spring I! and the button released as soon as the recess I5 is out ofregistry with the hole in the tube 9. As the bar I I is forced inwardlythe knob I2 comes against the end of the tube 9 at which time the 45 thesuitable spacing of the pall bearers regardless of a possible shortnessin the casket.

Assoon as the casket has been carried to a rest ing place the buttons 20are withdrawn and the bars II driven into the tube 9 restoring the 5handle to the size most suitable for that length of casket.

In Fig. 6 there is shown a bar 23 round in crosssection to fit within around tube 9. In this instance the sheath 24 has a groove 25 whichserves the additional purpose of holding the plunger I9 during itstravel from one recess I5 to another thus preventing any relativerotation between the tube and the bar.

This invention eifects a suitable variation in the length of a caskethandle but at the same time maintains its rigidity and usefulness. WhileI have shown the preferred form of my invention it will be apparent thatnumerous changes can be made in minor details, form and design withoutdeparting from the scope of the invention as defined in the followingclaims.

What I claim is:-

1. In a casket-handle, plates for independent attachment to a casket,and variably spaced apart, arms pivoted to said plates, a tube carriedby said pivoted arms, an abutment in the center of the tube, a barslidable within each end of the tube, a spiral spring between theabutment and each bar, and means for latching the bars to the tube.

2. In a casket-handle, plates for independent attachment to a casket,and variably spaced apart, arms pivoted to said plates a tube carried bysaid pivoted arms, an abutment in the center of the tube, a bar slidablewithin each end of the tube, a stop on the outer end of each bar andmeans for latching the bars to the tube. I

3. In a casket-handle, plates for independent attachment to a casket,and variably spaced apart, arms pivoted to said plates, a tube carriedby said arms, an abutment in the center of the tube, a bar slidablewithin each end of the tube, a spiral spring between the abutment andeach bar, said bars each having a series of spaced notches, and springlatches on the tube for selectively engaging one of said notches againstthe force of the spring.

4. In a casket-handle, plates for independent attachment to a casket,and variably spaced apart, arms pivoted to said plates, a tubecarried bysaid arms, a bar slidable within each end of the tube, said bars eachhaving a series of spaced notches, a collar extending laterally of thetube, a plunger in the collar, a button on theend of the plunger andspring means for holding the button against the collar and the free endof theplunger in one of said notches of the bar.

JOHN STEEN.

